File prop



Dec. 13, 1966 w. H. NOVALES FILE PROP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1965 INVENTOR. WILLIAM H. NOVALES ATTORNEYS Dec. 13,1966 w, NOVALES 3,291,134

FILE PROP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1965 INVENTOR. WILLIAM H. NOVALES BY FIG. 7

WWMM

ATTORNEYS United States Patent f 3,291,134 FILE PROP William H. Novales, P.0. Box 8364, Oakland, Calif. Filed Dec. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 522,009 1 Claim. (Cl. 129-26) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial Number 302,654, filed August 16, 1963, now abandoned.

This invention relates in general to a device for controlling the orientation of files in a commercial file drawer and more particularly to a device for tilting files in a file drawer so that the legends on the files may always be easily read.

Standard commercial file drawers are generally equipped with a follower which can be adjusted longitudinally in the drawer depending on the number of files to be stored. A vertical cross-section of a closed file drawer loosely filled with files taken longitudinally thereof would reveal a rhombus formed by files so oriented as to permit easy access to the legends on the top of the files. However, the same loose packing of the files in the file drawer results in the top edges being swung out toward the observer when the file drawer is pulled out and suddenly stopped.

Inertia swings the file legends over toward the observer and a separate hand motion is required to shift the tops of the files back toward the back of the file cabinet or toward the follower so that the legends may be viewed.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a device for adjusting the orientation of files in a commercial file drawer so that the legends on the files are automatically orientated so that they are tilted up toward the eyes of the person using the file drawer whenever the drawer is pulled out.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of the aforementioned type which controls the angle of files in a filing cabinet more effectively than is possible using a rigid block or guide.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which is light in weight and of simple mechanical construction.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a simple structure which can be used in any existing file drawer and which does not require that it be built into the file drawer structure.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a structure which is not subject to binding when in use.

Ancillary objects and advantages of this invention, if not specifically set forth, will become apparent during the course of the description which follows.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is -a perspective view into an open file cabinet with the device of this invention being employed.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation in section showing one manner of attaching the springs to the plates of the device of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a modified form of the device of this invention.

FIGURE 5 is a further modification of the device of this invention showing the utilization of the conventional file drawer follower as the support means for a portion of the structure.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view, somewhat similar to FIGURE 1, showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6 showing the method of attaching the springs.

Generally, this invention comprises an apparatus for 3,291,134 Patented Dec. 13, 1966 ice use in a file drawer for controlling the angle of the files in the drawer so that the legends at the tops of the files are tilted toward the eyes of the person viewing the interior of the file drawer. The device comprises a metal plate of a length no longer than about the width of the. interior of a file drawer and of not in excess of A: the height of the interior of the file drawer in which it is to be used, the first metal plate being held spaced from a second metal plate of about the same length as the first plate, the two plates being spaced from one another a distance of not in excess of A the height of the file drawer. The plates are held in spaced relationship solely by means of springs. Since no pins or guides of any kind are used, it is impossible for the device to bind. Further, in order to give stability to the device the springs are of large diameter relative to the height of the plates. It is preferred that the diameter of the springs be about /2 of the height of the plates. Thus in one practical embodiment of the invention the springs were oneinch in diameter and the plates were about 2% inches high. This device is used by placing it at the rear of a file drawer either resting directly on the bottom or secured to the follower plate.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters refer to like parts throughout, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a first plate 10 and a second plate 12 of approximately the same size. These plates are each of a length not in excess of the width of the file drawer in which they are to be used and their heights proportioned to the heights of the filing cabinets in which they are to be used so that at least one of the plates is no more than A the height of the interior volume of the said file drawer. Most conveniently, both plates are of the same dimensions. The plates are fixed in a spaced relationship by means of compression springs 14. As seen in FIGURE 3, the springs are conveniently held in place by means of tongues 16 cut from the plates on three sides thereof and bent slightly inwardly so as to receive the terminal ends of the coil springs.

In FIGURE 4 a modification is shown having a sloping flange 18 which meets plate 10 at an obtuse angle. This prevents files being dropped between the two plates onto the top of the springs 14.

In FIGURE 2 the file slanter or file prop of this invention is shown in use wherein it may be seen that its effect is to maintain the files, when the drawer is fully opened, with the lowermost portions thereof pushed forward so as-to permit the uppermost file edges to tip back whereby to expose any tabs or other indicia attached to the top of the files. In FIGURE 2, a file drawer follower 20 having conventional locking means 21 braces the rearward plate 12 and the file prop is simply permitted to rest loosely at the back of the file drawer.

In FIGURE 5 a modified structure is shown wherein the coil springs 14 are attached at their rearward ends directly to the follower 20.

Referring now to the preferred embodiment of the file slanter shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, there is shown a device having a first plate 25 and a second plate 27. Each of the plates is substantially the same so only one will be described in detail. The plates have a series of corrugations or ribs thereon so that they can be made of relatively light stock, such as aluminum sheet, yet will be sufiiciently rigid to serve the purpose for which they are intended. Thus, each plate has two long corrugations 29 and 31 along the long edges of the plate but which terminate short of the ends and in addition have a central corrugation 33. At each end of the plate are the short ribs 35 and 37. Near the ends of the plates and parallel with the shorter edges of the plates are two slots 39 and 41 which have been cut in the metal with the intervening portion 43 pressed upwardly- This forms a slot parallel to the fiat surface of the plate. In addition, dimples 45 and 47 are pressed near the ends of the plate for the purpose of holding the springs. Two springs 49 and 51 are provided. The combination of the slots formed by the bumped out portions 43 provides a very convenient, strong, inexpensive way of assembling the file slanter. Thus, one end of the spring is merely forced into the slot formed by the member 43, whereupon one side of the spring rests against and is retained by thecentral rib 33, while the opposite side of the spring is retained by one of the dimples 45. The method of assembly and holding the springs in place is best shown in FIGURE 7.

The'use of springs to space two metal elements so as to permit a resilient flexing action in the lead plate represents a substantial functional improvement over a block of about the same width as the device described. The common practice is to apply sufiicient force to cause a file drawer to close rapidly. When the drawer strikes the frame of the file case, it is stopped abruptly. But the contents of the drawer continue to slide back and the top edges of the files ultimately flop forward. Where the device of this invention is installed, however, the spring-loaded plate is pushed back, the amount of spring compression being governed by the inertia of the files. Hence, where a drawer is closed with maximum force, the springs are compressed to a maximum extent with a subsequent maximum return force being exerted against the bottoms of the files to re-orient them properly. The re-orienting force applied solely at the bottom edges of the files causes the tops of the files to flop back toward the rear of the drawer. The action of the coil springs is thus to cause an active re-orientation of the files immediately after the file drawer is no longer sliding in the cabinet; it has been observed that proper orientation of the files is better achieved in this manner than by use of a rigid block or other nondynamic guide arrangement.

Obviously, many modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claim.

I claim:

In combination a file drawer having a front wall and a bottom wall, a follower adjustable towards and away from the front wall, a file prop positioned on the bottom wall between the follower and front Wall, said file prop comprising,

(a) first and second like plates arranged in spaced opposed relation, each of said plates having a rectangular configuration with parallel long sides and parallel short sides;

(b) the long sides of said plates being less than the width of a file drawer and the short sides of said plates being less than one-fourth the height of a file drawer;

(c) each of said plates having a pair of reinforcing corrugations running parallel and adjacent to the long edges;

((1) struck-out members formed integral with said plates, adjacent each end of the plates;

7 (e) a pair of like compression coil springs holding the plates in spaced, parallel relationship, said springs being held to said plates by said struck-out members, said springs serving as the sole means connecting the plates;

(f) said struck-out members for holding the springs comprising a pair of parallel slits cut in the plates with the material between the slits being forced to one side, forming a slot parallel to the surface of the plate with the end of the spring inserted in said slot and held from sidewise movement by projections of the material forming the plate; and wherein one of said plates of said file prop abuts the fol lower and the other plate is urged by the springs toward the front wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

